GAME FIFTY TWO: All Things Must Pass

Restocking the bar and working on some new entrees for our June menu, so we're gonna make this a quick one.

So.

Fun little winning streak while it lasted; actually, I'm just as crestfallen over the end of Youk's multihit streak as the game's results, since sweeping a team like the Injuns just doesn't happen often. Daisuke was amazingly hittable (12 hits in 5.2 innings...yipe), Paul "Cy" Byrd (love that old school windup) was working his game, striking out and walking no one as usual but getting the outs all the same. If Byrd meets the Sox in a playoff series, I'm predicting it's gonna be a little like Jon Lieber in Game 6 of the 2004 ALCS; let's call it one to grow on. Oh, and the slide Mike Lowell pulled off to get second on Barfield (inside of the bag...didn't see that coming, did you, Junior?) was three times dope.

Day off before we start a (yawn) series with a struggling team with no chance at the AL East pennant. You may have heard of them. They used to be called the New York Highlanders. Think they won some championships or something.

And if you must shed a tear, shed it with the natives, for the ecology. They don't make ads like this no more:

GAME FIFTY-ONE: Itsoweezee (Hot)

Well they are, ain't they? Josh Beckett is undefeatable right now, putting in an impressive outing sans rust. Hideki Okajima continues to bring me joy as an unlikely second closer. Kevin Youkilis (whose blog is up; check the sidebar links) has two hitting streaks going--regular and Jim Rice-ian (tied the should-be Hall Of Famer yesterday with his 8th straight multi-hit game...wow.) And as an added bit of fun, the New York Post is having Yankee-related fun! Compare/contrast:



A) The blonde A-Rod (probably) cheated on his wife with. Picture might not give you the best view, but on the 1-10 scale, she's not exactly Bo Derek.



B) A-Rod with wifey Cynthia from the cl(ass)y Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue.

Compare: They're both blonde.

Contrast: Cynthia is HOT. Aren't affairs best as an opportunity to cheat with someone nothing like your girl or upgrade?

Man, yesterday the Yankees give up a game by errors and give up their first steal of home since, like, Jackie Robinson in the '55 World Series even the AL home run leader is slumping. I'm feeling a bit of Yankee pity.

No, wait, that's heartburn. Shouldn't have gone with the spicy rice and hot sauce on the halal plate today.

GAME FIFTY: Chief Knockainsidetheparkhoma.

After a pleasant Memorial Day weekend vacation whupping the Rangers, the Sox are embroiled in a real matchup and possible ALCS preview with the Cleveland Unspecified Native American Tribe, my favorite fictional ballclub. This one got a little more exciting than was desirable as Papelbon was more Papelmédiocre, and it nearly got Papelmauvais. No need to focus on the negative though. Here's the good stuff.



1) Kevin Youkilis is more than just the (Jewish) Greek God of Walks; he's a Manny Ramirez-esque gangsta (near a 1.000 OPS!) and today he is the Greek God of Inside-The-Park Home Run.



2) Curt Schilling got his splitter back. In a way he hasn't since 2002, he claims. Let's party like it's November 2001.



3) Beckett's back, going for 8-0. Oh, you didn't notice he was gone? Fair enough; it hasn't exactly been a struggle without him. As things are, this is not a .700 team; if Lugo and Drew come around (Crisp would be a mere bonus) + Beckett (+Lester?), this very well may be a .700 club with the resistance the AL East is putting up.



4) Brian Cashman is on the hot seat. I can't say how stupid it would be to fire him now, in the middle of replenishing/rebuilding the Yankees. You don't change horses midstream.



The Indians might have to conjure the ghost of Chief Nokahoma to get out of Boston with a win or two. Whomp 'em, Sox.